Understanding Surrogacy: Overview of the Surrogacy Process

Gestational Surrogacy is a complex and highly personal process that has become increasingly popular in recent years as a means for individuals and couples to fulfill their dreams of starting or expanding a family. For intended parents, the journey toward parenthood through surrogacy can be both exciting and daunting, filled with numerous legal, financial, and emotional considerations.

To ensure a successful and fulfilling surrogacy experience, intended parents must have a comprehensive understanding of the process and all its intricacies. This article serves as a comprehensive guide for intended parents, providing all the necessary information and resources to navigate the world of surrogacy with confidence and clarity. From understanding the different types of surrogacy arrangements to selecting the right surrogate and navigating legal contracts, we will cover everything you need to know to make informed decisions and achieve your ultimate goal of building a family.

Our goal is to equip intended parents with the necessary knowledge and guidance to navigate this life-changing journey with a sense of empowerment and understanding. So, let us dive into the world of surrogacy and begin this journey together.

Key takeaways:

Here are the key takeaways from this comprehensive surrogacy guide:

• There are two main types of surrogacy – traditional surrogacy using the surrogate’s own eggs, and gestational surrogacy using IVF with intended parent or donor eggs. Gestational is more common today.
• Reasons intended parents pursue surrogacy include infertility, medical conditions, same-sex couples wanting a biological child, and single individuals.
• The surrogacy process involves consultation, legal contracts, embryo transfer to the gestational carrier, pregnancy care and support, and birth, and post-birth procedures.
• Emotional support for all parties is crucial. Building a positive relationship between intended parents and surrogates facilitates a good experience.
• There are legal, financial, and medical considerations to research thoroughly before pursuing surrogacy. Costs add up with IVF, compensation, healthcare, etc.
• Challenges are greater for same-sex couples but surrogacy remains an option in some areas.
• Working with an experienced surrogacy agency guides intended parents and provides coordination and support for the complex process.

What is surrogacy?

Surrogacy is a reproductive method in which a woman, known as the surrogate or gestational carrier, carries a pregnancy and gives birth to a child for another individual or couple. This arrangement is often sought by individuals or couples who are unable to conceive and carry a pregnancy due to various medical reasons such as infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, or certain health conditions. Surrogacy can be a viable option for those who desire to have a biological child but are unable to do so through traditional means.

Types of Surrogacy

Mainly there are 2 types of surrogacies:

1. Traditional Surrogacy: In this case, the surrogate uses her own eggs, making her genetically related to the child. This method is less commonly practiced due to legal and emotional complexities. In most of the countries, this form of surrogacy is not allowed.

2. Gestational Surrogacy: It is the most prevalent form of surrogacy today. It involves the use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques, where the intended mother’s or a donor’s eggs are fertilized with the intended father’s or a donor’s sperm. The resulting embryo is then transferred to the surrogate’s uterus which carries and delivers the baby. She has no genetic relation to the child. It is either one or both of the intended parents who are biologically related to the child.

Why Intended Parents Choose Surrogacy to Become Parents?

There are various reasons why couples opt for surrogacy:

• Infertility: It provides a solution for those facing fertility challenges, including medical conditions, reproductive disorders, or previous unsuccessful attempts at conception. Serves as a medically supervised, safe alternative for pregnancy when intended parents face physical risks
• Same-Sex Couples: It allows same-sex couples to fulfill their dreams of becoming parents by using their own or donor gametes. Surrogacy for single males is one of the common ways of growing a family.
• Medical Conditions: It may be recommended for ladies with medical conditions that make pregnancy unsafe or impossible. Provides a solution for those unable to carry a pregnancy due to medical conditions like uterine abnormalities or recurrent pregnancy loss
• Offers intended parents a genetic connection to their child through the use of IVF with their own gametes

What is the Process of Surrogacy: A Step-by-step Guide

The surrogacy journey is a collaborative effort involving several key stages. It’s important to understand each step to ensure a smooth and successful experience.

The surrogacy process takes 18 months to 24 months depending upon the individual circumstances. Here is an outline for steps for the intended parents

Please keep in mind that the durations mentioned in the table are approximate and can vary depending on individual circumstances and other factors. Always consult with a reputable surrogacy agency or professional to get personalized guidance throughout the surrogacy journey.

1. Initial Consultation and Assessment

Any typical surrogate process starts with a comprehensive consultation to understand your specific needs, expectations, and legal considerations. We will assess your eligibility for surrogacy and discuss the available options. Once we select the best program for you, we along with our local service provider assist you in your parenthood journey. Intended parents and the surrogate may do an initial consult with thier agency.

2. Matching and Legal Processes

Once you have decided to pursue surrogacy, we will assist you in finding a suitable surrogate who meets your preferences and requirements. Thorough background checks and medical screenings are conducted to ensure compatibility and a healthy pregnancy.

Contracts are drafted, outlining the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved, including the intended parents, surrogates, and any egg or sperm donors. It’s crucial to engage experienced attorneys specializing in reproductive law to protect everyone’s interests and have an amicable relationship between the intended parents and their gestational carrier.

3. Fertility Treatments and Embryo Transfer

In preparation for the embryo transfer, the intended mother or egg donor undergoes hormonal stimulation to promote the production of multiple eggs. These eggs are then fertilized in the laboratory through IVF. The resulting embryos are carefully evaluated, and the most viable ones are selected for transfer.

Under the supervision of skilled fertility specialists, the selected embryos are transferred to the surrogate’s uterus, where they have the potential to implant and develop into a healthy pregnancy.

4. Pregnancy and Support

Throughout the pregnancy, the surrogate mother receives continuous medical care, emotional support, and guidance from an experienced team. Regular check-ups, prenatal screenings, and necessary interventions are provided to ensure the well-being of both the surrogate and the developing baby.

5. Birth and Post-Birth Procedures

When the time comes for delivery, our team will be there to provide assistance and support. The intended parents can be present to witness the birth of their child and establish an immediate bond with their newborn. After the birth, legal procedures such as establishing parental rights and obtaining necessary documents, including birth certificates, will be initiated to ensure a smooth transition.

What are Emotional Considerations in the surrogacy process for intended parents?

Embarking on the surrogacy journey can be emotionally challenging for intended parents and surrogate mothers, as it is a clinically driven and long process. It’s important to acknowledge and address these emotions throughout the process. We offer comprehensive emotional support and counseling services to help you navigate the ups and downs.

How to Build a Relationship with the Surrogates?

Establishing a positive and open relationship with the surrogate mother is vital. Regular communication, mutual respect, and understanding are the foundations of a successful surrogacy partnership.

We encourage intended parents to maintain a compassionate and supportive connection with their gestational carrier throughout the pregnancy and beyond.

• Addressing Concerns and Expectations

Surrogacy raises various concerns and expectations for intended parents. These may include fears about the surrogate’s commitment, potential issues, and the well-being of the child. Our team of experts is here to address your concerns, provide reassurance, and guide you through any challenges that may arise.

• Legal Aspects of Surrogacy

Surrogacy laws and regulations vary from country to country, and even within different states or regions. It is essential to be well-informed about the framework governing your specific jurisdiction.

• International Surrogacy

For those considering international surrogacy, it is critical to thoroughly research the laws and regulations of both the intended parents’ home country and the country where the surrogacy arrangement will take place.

Consulting with experienced attorneys specializing in international surrogacy can provide valuable guidance and ensure compliance with legal requirements.

• Parental Rights and Legal Protections

Ensuring that parental rights are protected is of utmost importance. Engaging the services of reputable professionals with expertise in reproductive law is essential to navigate the legal complexities and secure the intended parents’ rights as parents of the child.

What are the Financial Considerations/Surrogacy Costs

The cost of surrogacy is one of the biggest concerns for the intended parents. As the saying goes, “it takes a village to raise a child’, and it takes an interdisciplinary team to achieve the complex goal of a domestic or international surrogacy birth. Surrogacy involves various financial aspects that need to be carefully considered. The costs associated may include:

• Surrogate Compensation: The surrogate receives financial compensation for her time, effort, and commitment throughout the pregnancy.
• Medical Expenses: The intended parents are responsible for covering all medical expenses related to the surrogate’s prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum care.
• Legal Fees: Fees associated with drafting contracts, establishing parental rights, and ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• Agency Fees: If utilizing the services of a surrogacy agency, there will be associated fees for their professional assistance and guidance.
• Pregnancy care cost: The expense associated with the surrogate pregnancy like medical appointments/consultations/ tests and scans.
• Insurance cost: To avoid hefty medical costs in case of emergency having a surrogate mother’s health insurance gives lots of peace to the IPs. It is better to consult with your surrogacy professional for possible options.
• Egg Donation Cost: In case you need an egg donor, you need costs associated with egg donation like egg donor compensation, egg donor agency fee, and legal fees it.
• Miscellaneous cost: Some unpredictable costs will always be there. It is good to keep aside 10% of your actual cost in case incidental services are needed.

Embarking on the surrogacy journey is a significant decision for anyone, and we are here to assist you every step of the way.

Below you can find the details of some of the considerations that you need to make before starting the grow your family via the surrogacy process.

Personal consideration and for gestational surrogacy

1. Do you really need a surrogacy route to achieve parenthood? For gay couples, it is obvious that they do not have many options. But for hetero couples opting for surrogacy should be the last option due to cost and emotional inputs.

2. Do you have emotional/family support to depend upon? Caring for a newborn is one of the most demanding jobs, not to forget initial sleepless nights!

3. Will you be open to telling your child(ren) how they got conceived? Meeting surrogates /egg donors can be on your agenda, whenever it happens. Have you discussed this with your gestational carrier /donor agency?

4. Many IPs wish to use their own eggs, or their friend or family person instead of an anonymous egg donor. Do consider this option. If you wish to use your own egg donor, make sure to sign an agreement or discuss it in advance.

Financial consideration and budgeting for Surrogacy

1. Have you fully understood the most likely financial surrogacy cost breakdown? The cost of full program IVF, egg donor surrogate mother is alarmingly high in the US, but other affordable options are possible. Have you explored all the options? The overall cost can go much higher than you initially planned!

2. Take the cost of surrogacy with a breakdown. Consider all aspects of the surrogacy cost – egg donor fee, legal fee, surrogate matching fee, travel cost, transport & storage of genetic material, surrogate compensation, carrier medical expenses, IVF – including embryo transfers, surrogates health insurance. The list seems to be never-ending, but you should have a basic indication of the likely cost.

3. Sometimes it takes one embryo transfer to be successful, but not always. So, make sure if the first embryo transfer is not successful, what is an additional fee? Be prepared to have at least 1-3 attempts. Some agencies offer all-inclusive guaranteed plans, if possible, opt for them as it will give you peace of mind.

4. Keep 10% of total cost aside, to cover unseen incidental costs like Twins pregnancy or premature delivery, etc. Always ask for a price list with a clear breakdown of the cost what is included and at what stages you need to pay and for what.

Legal Consideration for Surrogacy

1. Do the reproductive laws in your country allow you to engage in surrogacy at home and/or abroad?

2. Have you engaged with other successful parents who already have completed their parenthood journey? It is good to consider the first-hand experience of those who already traveled the path you are considering.

3. Is there an established process for granting citizenship to a child born through a gestational surrogate mother? It does not hurt to contact your country’s embassy; they provide an unbiased opinion.

4. If considering surrogacy abroad options (which you might for some good reasons), do you understand the amount of time you will need to be away from home/ work for travel, documentation, infant care, and exit processes?

Medical Consideration for Surrogacy Process

1. Do you ask for a success rate of embryo transfer in a surrogate mother with/without an egg donor?

2. If you need PGD for genetic testing of embryos/gender selection – this facility is available in IVF Clinics at extra cost.
3. The law regarding the number of embryo transfers in surrogates. In case you wish to have twins, how they can maximize this?
4. Have you understood the potential health risks of twin pregnancies – the extra cost of NICU, baby deliveries, visa fees, etc? The risk of premature delivery and the cognitive and physical defect is as high as 65% in twins.

So, opting for a healthy singleton is recommended by all means. But it is a reality that out of 5 confirmed pregnancies, one is twins in the IVF process.

5. What is the IVF clinic’s consideration when choosing a surrogate mother? It is good to choose someone who has at least one baby of her own and is psychologically prepared without any emotional baggage.

6. Ask for a brief overview of prenatal care for the surrogate mother. How frequently you will receive an update about her process, scans, important marker tests, or her pics of growing belly?

7. Discuss your surrogate delivery options, if any- Which hospital and how much is it going to cost?

Surrogacy Agency Consideration

1. Finding an experienced and reputed surrogacy agency is an important part of the journey. If you have a caring and dedicated professional, the overall process becomes a much more enriching and hassle-free experience.

2. How long have they been in business? It is wise to choose an agency that has at least 5 years of experience as they already have successful baby births and exits so already know the level of complication involved and how to handle the unseen situations.

3. How many cases they have done– especially for your country’s citizens as it will help you to understand how efficient they are with the exit process for your specific case.

4. What type of medical/emotional/ psychological checks and support is given to surrogates before, during, and after the program?

5. How do they take payments and what stages? Avoid agencies that take the maximum portion of money even before the actual process of IVF. The payment breakdown should be in the way that you pay most money after heartbeats confirmation. What is the refund policy if a miscarriage happens?

6. If using a gestational carrier from your own country/another country, have you had sufficient discussion to ensure you are ‘on the same page’ regarding the arrangement? If she wishes to stay in contact yes, to what extent of contact she wants during/after the pregnancy?

7. How smoothly the agency and IVF Clinic coordinate with each other as they should work as an integral team.

8. Do you have 24-hour emergency support? How readily are they available to you?

9. The frequency and promptness of communications. Is the coordination team gladly assisting and taking the time and effort to get back to you? Are they quick and transparent with communication? Are you feeling connected with them and intuitively feel their genuineness? It is going to be a yearlong process, you will be having a lot of conversations and become an integral part of each other life. Develop trust and compassion for each other.

Challenges for same-sex surrogacy arrangements

Surrogacy for gay couples is becoming a popular means of becoming parents. This is due to advanced medical Assisted Reproduction Techniques like IVF.

On the other hand, there is an increase in acceptance for gay parents in society with almost equal rights and opportunities. There are a few challenges, let’s discuss these here.

1. The gay men’s surrogacy options are fewer and close each passing year. Most of the market is closing due to ethical reasons.

2. Egg donor requirement- To achieve parenthood, gay couples need an egg donor with a surrogate mother. An egg donor can be a friend or family member or an anonymous egg donor. The bottom line is the baby will be half biologically linked with any one of them. The cost of the egg donor is additional for gay men or single-male surrogacy programs.

3. Not all IVF Clinics offer IVF/Surrogacy Services to gay men. They need to find an IVF Clinic that is open to working with gay men. Luckily, most agencies are gay-friendly and assist all Intended Parents.

4. Finding a surrogate mother who is passionate and open to becoming a gestational carrier for gay men.

5. First, you need to decide on which partner going to be biologically related to the child. One partner or both partners can participate. The couple may choose to divide the eggs and have half fertilized by each partner. In this case, one or more embryos from each partner would be implanted into the two different gestational carriers.

6. Name on Baby Birth Certificate- In most countries, the name of the biological father and surrogate mother comes on the baby’s birth certificate.

That is why it is a challenge for them to put the names of both parents on the baby’s birth certificate. It is only a few states of the USA (California), which offer viable surrogacy options for gay men with both parent’s names on the birth certificate.

Conclusion

In conclusion, surrogacy can be a complex and emotional journey for intended parents. However, with thorough research, proper legal guidance, and the support of a reputable agency, it can also be a rewarding and fulfilling experience.

We hope this guide has provided valuable information and insights for those considering surrogacy as a path to parenthood. Remember, every surrogacy journey is unique and it is important to carefully consider all factors before making a decision.

Ultimately, the most important thing is to trust and communicate openly with your surrogate, and to cherish the incredible gift of parenthood that surrogacy can bring.

If you’d like to learn more about IVF, Egg Donation, or surrogacy services globally, check out the rest of our website at Complete Surrogacy. We offer legally secure and affordable surrogacy consulting services for FREE.

Our team has over 13 years of experience facilitating surrogacy arrangements, egg donation, and serving as an advocacy resource for infertile couples and LGBTQ individuals seeking to build families.

Our founder and chief surrogacy consultant, Neelam Chhagani, passionately helps couples struggling with fertility challenges. Since starting our surrogacy consulting agency in 2013, we’ve helped welcome over 500 babies for intended parents nationwide.

Our team includes experts from diverse backgrounds with leading reproductive attorneys, professionally trained top fertility doctors, former surrogacy case managers, experienced and kind surrogate mother and egg donor coordinators, mental health professionals specializing in infertility counseling, and a logistic support team to assist you in your chosen surrogacy country.

FAQs for the Surrogacy Process 

What’s the difference between traditional and gestational surrogacy?

Gestational surrogacy uses IVF with the intended parents’ or donors’ eggs, while traditional surrogacy uses the surrogate’s own eggs. Gestational surrogacy allows intended parents to have a biological connection to the child.

How much does a surrogacy journey typically cost?

The overall cost can range anywhere from $90,000 to $130,000 on average, covering expenses like medical care, legal fees, agency fees, surrogate compensation, insurance, and more.

What kind of relationship will we have with the surrogate?

It varies, but most intended parents and surrogates communicate regularly throughout the pregnancy and often develop a close, supportive relationship. This connection can continue after birth if both parties desire.

Can the surrogate decide to keep our baby?

No, with proper legal contracts in place, the surrogate has no claim over the baby. Legal guidance ensures parental rights belong to the intended parents alone.

What if something goes wrong with the pregnancy?

There are medical and emotional support systems in place from reputable surrogacy agencies. However, no guarantees exist that complications won’t occur, so intended parents should be prepared.

How do we find the right surrogate and agency?

Do thorough research and consult with those experienced in surrogacy. Vet agencies carefully regarding screening practices, success rates, costs, legal protections, emotional support, and responsiveness.